System and method for ozone containing packaging for sanitizing application

ABSTRACT

A method and packaging system receive products and/or objects in a packaging storage volume, the packaging storage volume contains a first agent including oxygen that is energizably convertible by an ultraviolet radiation energy source to a sanitizing agent including ozone in the packaging storage volume, the sanitizing agent including ozone being transferable to the products and/or objects to provide at least one of a sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing, application to the products and/or objects. The system also includes at least one of an incline, a ridged surface, ridged strip, a baffle structure, and other structure for providing rotational motion to the products and/or objects being stored in the packaging storage volume for exposing surfaces of the products and/or objects to the sanitizing agent comprising ozone and to the ultraviolet radiation energy. Additionally, a packaging storage control system is provided with timed intervals for exposure to sanitizing applications.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority from,prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/583,041, filed on May 30,2000, now assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,403,033, the entire disclosure ofwhich is herein incorporated by reference, and wherein such priorapplication was based upon, and claimed priority from, prior U.S. PatentApplication No. 60/136,885, filed on Jun. 1, 1999, now abandoned, theentire disclosure of which is also herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to using ozone to provide atleast one of a sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing, application toan object or product, and more particularly for a system and method forproviding and containing a sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas in apackaging structure for an object or product to thereby transfer thesanitizing agent comprising ozone gas to the object or product whilebeing located in the packaging structure and thereafter to prolong theat least one of sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing, effect to theobject or product in the packaging structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Objects or products such as perishable food products, including meats,poultry, fish, fruits, and vegetables, or objects such as medicaldevices and instruments, or other objects that may be subject toinfection or contamination by micro-organisms, viruses, and pathogens,typically require hygienic and sanitary conditions to be properlyhandled, packaged, and/or used. These types of objects or products aregenerally susceptible to contamination from micro-organisms such asbacteria, and from viruses, pathogens, and from other similar unsanitarycontaminants. These objects are regularly subject to environmentalexposure to contaminants such as micro-organisms, viruses, and othersuch contaminants thereby degrading sanitary and hygienic conditions forthe objects or products.

Food products, for example, can seriously degrade in shelf life and canbe dangerous for consumption under unsanitary states. Medical devicesand instruments are likewise subject to contamination from many sourcesand can cause serious harm if used in unsanitary conditions. Cuts andwounds and other conditions of the body of animals and humans aresimilarly susceptible to external biological contaminants andmicro-organisms and pathogens under unsanitary conditions which cancause infection, disease and other serious consequences if leftunattended.

In the past, attempts to sanitize these types of objects have generallyincluded washing and cleansing an object and then packaging and/orwrapping the object, which normally took place in special cleanprocessing facilities. However, it is not always feasible or desirableto set up significant special facilities to sanitize such objects todesirable levels. For example, it may be desirable to package and/orwrap a food product at a convenient location where no special facilitiesare normally available such as at an office, a home, or even outdoors.Similarly, it may be desirable to package and/or wrap a medical deviceor instrument with no special medical cleansing facility being availableor desirable for sanitizing the medical instrument before a subsequentuse.

Regrettably, in most circumstances after providing sanitizing agents andcleansing facility to help clean and sanitize a product or object,subsequent poor handling by personnel typically results inre-contamination prior to final packaging of the product or object. Thispoor handling creates serious contamination hazards and transfer ofdisease to users and consumers of the products and objects beingpackaged under such conditions. Most commonly, an expensive specialhandling and processing facility is required to provide a sanitizingand/or sterilizing effect to an object or product. For example,irradiation processing of object and products requires very specializedand expensive equipment that is not readily usable in most environments.

With respect to perishable food products, such as meat, poultry, orfish, such products are normally packaged and re-packaged for subsequentuse or distribution where at each stage of unpacking and re-packagingthere is potential for introduction of contaminants, such asmicro-organisms and viruses, and other pathogens, such as from E-coli,samonella, and listeria contamination, that can harm humans as well asseriously degrade the shelf life, increase perishability, anddetrimentally impact human consumability, of such food products. Thenormal handling conditions at the different stages of productdistribution, ultimately to handling by an end user, and further there-packaging at each one of the stages, causes additional risk forcontamination of such food products.

Additionally, even when sanitizing and/or sterilizing treatments areprovided to products and objects to be packaged, commonly there aresurfaces of the products and objects that may remain unexposed to thetreatments. For example, the products and objects are typically locatedon a tray or other support structure as part of a packaging process. Thesurfaces of the products and objects that are in direct contact with thetray or other support structure will not be readily exposed tosanitizing and/or sterilizing treatments. Further, multiple productsand/or objects being packaged together may make direct surface contactbetween the multiple products and/or objects. The surfaces of themultiple products and/or objects contacting with each other will likelyremain unexposed to sanitizing and/or sterilizing treatments.Regrettably, after packaging of the products and/or objects, theunexposed surfaces will likely continue to carry contaminants, includingmicrobes such as bacteria and viruses, that continue to posecontamination hazards to users and consumers of the products and/orobjects. Therefore, sanitizing and/or sterilizing treatments of only theexposed surfaces may not remove the necessary amount of contamination toresult in desired sanitary and/or sterile conditions for the packagedproducts and/or objects.

Food products, therefore, can include contaminants such as all sorts ofmicro-organisms, bacteria, and viruses. These contaminants can include,but are not limited to, bacteria, fungi, yeast, mold, mildew, and avariety of viruses. E-coli and listeria are pathogens that have gainedmuch attention in the news where humans have been made sick and injuredand have died as a result of contamination of food and water. Many ofthese types of contaminants can increase a rate of spoilage and reduceshelf life of food products as well as provide serious health hazards tohumans that consume or come in contact with such products. Commonly,these contaminants are introduced to the surfaces of food productsduring processing, handling, and distribution.

Modern methods of packaging and cleaning food products, typicallyemployed at food processing plants and factories, can reduce hazardouscontaminants, such as micro-organisms, that can contaminate the surfacesof food products. These processing and packaging techniques includethermal processing, washing food products with chlorinated water,irradiation of food products, vacuum sealing packaging, low temperaturestorage, modified atmosphere packaging (or MAP), active packaging, andcertain techniques for clean handling and packaging. Additionally, ozonebubbled in water has been used to wash and thereby disinfect chickensand other such food products and associated food processing plants andsuch specialized food handling environments. Ozone in such aqueoussolution has been generally regarded as safe for use with the foodsupply. For example, most people are familiar with ozonated drinkingwater. However, these processes and techniques discussed above typicallymust be applied under strictly controlled environments in a processingplant and factory and usually employing special equipment and handling.

These specialized requirements for packaging such food products,although helpful in reducing contamination and enhancing shelf life ofproducts, are generally expensive and only available in specialenvironments such as in food processing plants and factories. Further,when the packaging is removed at a later point in a distribution channeland the food product is re-packaged for further distribution or forconsumption at a later time, new contamination can typically beintroduced to the food products thereby losing some if not most of thebeneficial effects of the earlier clean handling and packaging at thefactory. This subsequent re-packaging and handling normally does notbenefit from special equipment and ultra-clean environment to re-packagethe food products with heightened sanitary conditions as in a foodprocessing plant and factory.

In medical applications, where medical equipment and instruments need tobe sanitized, unfortunately, conventional specialized equipment must beused to sanitize and disinfect the equipment or instruments to asatisfactory level, or possibly sterilize as necessary, for further use.This specialized equipment is usually expensive and the process forsanitizing, disinfecting, and/or sterilizing, tends to be time consumingsignificantly impacting the costs of medical services and the commercialviability of medical businesses. Additionally, this specializedequipment and processing is normally not generally available in all butspecialized environments.

Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method to eliminate thedisadvantages of the prior art as discussed above, and particularly toprovide a sanitizing, disinfecting, and/or sterilizing, application toobjects and/or products being packaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are cross-sectional side views of alternative wrappingand/or packaging structures according to preferred alternativeembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a wrapping and/or packagingstructure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a packaged and/or completelywrapped object according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an exemplary sheet comprising a pluralityof stores in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional side views of alternative wrappingand/or packaging structures according to the preferred embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate cross-sectional side views of an alternativewrapping and/or packaging structure according to a preferred embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative wrapping and/orpackaging structure according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary wrapping and/orpackaging structure exposed to ultraviolet light energy according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a portion of a sheet and an exemplaryultraviolet light energy source energizing at least one store of thesheet to provide sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas therein accordingto a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a front cut-away view illustrating an exemplary sanitizingbag packaging application in accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front cut-away view showing a food product being sanitizedin the bag of FIG. 12 according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are front cut-away views illustrating two exemplaryrigid structure sanitizing packaging applications according toalternative preferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating an exemplaryconstruction and arrangement of an ultra-violet radiation source device,in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a side view of an exemplary packaging system according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a top view of the exemplary packaging system shown in FIG.17.

FIG. 19 is a side view of another exemplary packaging system accordingto an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an electrical block diagram illustrating an exemplary controlsystem for a storage system, in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an operational flow diagram illustrating an exemplaryoperational flow sequence for the control system of FIG. 20, inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a front view of a side-by-side refrigerator and freezerstorage system illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the storagesystem discussed with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21, according to thepreferred embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, andas illustrated in an exemplary configuration in FIG. 1, a sanitizingagent, preferably comprising a relatively high concentration of ozonegas to provide sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing, treatment toan object or product, is captured or stored in a structure 100 forwiping, wrapping, and packaging, and for interaction with a surface ofan object or product to provide sanitizing, disinfecting, andsterilizing, effect thereto. The structure 100 covers at least a portionof the surface of the object or product to provide a wrapping orpackaging thereto and thereby extending the sanitary and hygienic stateof at least the covered portion of the object or product.

The sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas is captured or stored in atleast one store 106 in the sanitizing structure 100 as will be discussedin detail below. Although the structure 100 will be referred to as asanitizing structure 100, it is understood that the structure 100 in allof its embodiments in accordance with the present invention can providesanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing effects on objects or productsfor particular applications of the present invention. Therefore, unlessspecifically expressed otherwise, the term sanitizing structure shallinclude sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing effects on objects orproducts in accordance with particular applications of the presentinvention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an exemplary multi-layer film or substrate structure100 storing the sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas can be used. Inthis example, the sanitizing structure 100 comprises plastic filmlayers. However, other structure construction and arrangements thatallow storage and/or transfer of a sanitizing agent comprising ozone gasare anticipated within the scope of the present invention, and asfurther discussed below.

Further, the term sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas is generallyused herein to describe an agent that when transferred to a surface ofan object or product at least provides the beneficial sanitizing,disinfecting, and sterilizing effects provided by ozone gas. Ozone gashas been shown very effective to sanitize, disinfect and sterilizeequipment and processing facilities, as well as for ozonating drinkingwater. Ozone, in varying concentrations as a treatment for products andobjects, can provide beneficial sanitizing, disinfecting, andsterilizing, effects thereto. Shortly after treatment, the ozonenormally converts to a harmless composition usually resulting in oxygenand water associated with a treated product or object. For example,ozonated water additionally benefits from enhanced taste for humanconsumption.

The sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas, according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention, provides at least a reduction inmicrobial count as part of a sanitizing application. Further, in certainapplications, such as for medical sanitizing or other productsanitizing, it is desirable that the sanitizing agent comprising ozonegas provide anti-viral and anti-pathogen properties to attackcontaminants comprising viruses and other pathogens. Therefore, asanticipated by the embodiments of the present invention, and inaccordance with specific applications thereof, the sanitizing agentcomprising ozone gas provides anti-microbial properties to reducemicrobial counts, including but not limited to reduction in bacteria,fungi, yeast, mold, and mildew, counts. Further, the sanitizing agentcomprising ozone gas, according to alternative preferred embodiments ofthe present invention used in certain applications, additionallyprovides anti-viral properties to attack certain viruses. As is wellknown, ozone can exhibit such beneficial anti-microbial properties andanti-viral properties for specific applications of the embodiments ofthe present invention. Accordingly, the term sanitizing agent is usedherein to comprise properties that can sanitize and disinfect, i.e.,reduce microbial and viral counts, and/or sterilize, i.e., substantiallyminimizing counts thereof, with respect to an object or product beingsanitized by the sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas and in accordancewith specific applications. The term contaminants as used herein,therefore, includes such microbial and viral contaminants, and generallyother invading contaminants, that can create unsanitary conditions,spoilage, and/or damage to objects or products.

Additionally, it should be clear that the structure 100 is usable suchas for wiping, wrapping, and/or packaging, an object or product, and thestructure 100 does not necessarily have to cover the entire surface areaof the object or product. The structure 100 provides the beneficialsanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing effect while in closeproximity to a surface of an object or product. In certain applications,for example, a wrapping structure 100 can cover a portion of a surfaceof an object to deliver sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas generallyto the covered portion. In one exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, a sanitizing bandage on a wound or cut on a patient's outerskin surface may only cover a portion thereof, e.g., a portion of thepatient's skin area about the wound or cut, to provide beneficialsanitizing effect thereto.

In the current example, a first layer 102 in a multi-layer sanitizingstructure 100 comprises a gas impermeable or low gas permeable plasticfilm which provides a substantial gas barrier to the sanitizing agentcomprising ozone gas. It also provides a barrier from outsidecontaminants when the sanitizing structure 100 covers at least a portionof, and/or substantially encloses, an object such as a food product, ora medical instrument, or a patient's tissue or skin region such as abouta wound or cut thereon.

A second layer 104 or substrate preferably comprises a highly gaspermeable material, such as a high gas permeable plastic film, thatallows transfer of the sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas. The gaspermeability and transfer rate of the sanitizing agent comprising ozonegas can be substantially selected and configured into the second layer104 to deliver a sufficient amount of sanitizing agent comprising ozonegas to the surface of an object or product and possibly continuedelivery over a desired time interval.

The high gas permeable second layer 104, in one preferred embodiment ofthe present invention as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a plastic filmformed with the first layer 102 to capture and store the sanitizingagent comprising ozone gas therebetween. The gas permeable plastic filmof the second layer 104 allows transfer of the sanitizing agentcomprising ozone gas from a stored or captured volume (a store) 106through the second layer 104 to the opposing surface area thereof thatis in close proximity and/or in direct contact with a surface area of anobject or product requiring sanitizing effect thereto. This will bediscussed in more detail below.

In the exemplary preferred embodiment of the present invention shown inFIG. 1, a third layer 108 is utilized to provide a substantial gasbarrier to maintain the sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas capturedbetween layer one 102 and layer two 104 of the sanitizing structure 100until ready for use for sanitizing an object or product. The third layer108, in an exemplary preferred embodiment, comprises a gas impermeable,or low gas permeable, plastic film that is mechanically coupled to theat least one store 106 and removable from the second layer 104 whenready to apply the sanitizing structure 100 such as to wrap or packagean object or product.

For example, the third layer 108 can comprise a strippable plasticbarrier that when removed from the second layer 104 allows the higherpermeability of the second layer 104 to transfer the sanitizing agentcomprising the ozone gas through the second layer 104. The permeabilityof the second layer 104 is selectable to provide a transfer rate thatpermits a user to apply the wrap and/or packaging to an object orproduct and then allows the sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas in atleast one store 106 to continue to transfer onto the surface of theobject or product to provide an extended sanitizing effect to the objector product. Additionally, the transfer rate may be selectable to varyacross different portions of the structure 100 such as for particularwrapping and/or packaging applications, as will be discussed below.

Therefore, in a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, asshown in FIG. 1, the third barrier layer 108 comprises a removable orstrippable film layer that is adhesively coupled to the second gaspermeable layer 104 until ready to use. When ready to use, the thirdlayer 108 is removed, such as by stripping apart the third layer 108from the remaining structure 100, including the second and first layers104,102, forming the at least one store 106. Preferably, the thirdremovable layer 108 is a plastic film that is strippable off the outersurface of the second gas permeable layer 104 thereby removing thebarrier effect and releasing the transfer of the sanitizing agentcomprising ozone gas through the second gas permeable layer 104.

In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown inFIG. 2, the wrapping and/or packaging structure 100 comprises a barrierthird layer 202 that is substantially formed on the outer surface of thesecond gas permeable layer 104. For example, the third layer 202 maycomprise a very thin film, liquid, gel, or wax, that readily dissolvesupon contact with surface fluids of an object. In this way, the barrierthird layer 202 is removable upon use, such as by soluble interactionwith an object or product, thereby allowing the sanitizing agent totransfer from the at least one store 106 across the gas permeable secondlayer 104 in close proximity and/or making surface contact with theobject or product thereby providing the sanitizing benefit to the objector product.

As shown in FIG. 3, the third layer 108,202 (from previous FIGS. 1 or 2)has been removed from the second layer 104 allowing the second layer 104to be exposed and to be located in close proximity to an object totransfer (as shown by arrow 302) sanitizing agent comprising ozone gasthrough the second layer 104 to the surface of the object. In apackaging application, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a surface 403 of anobject 402 is located in close proximity to layer two 104 with layerthree removed. The wrapping and/or packaging structure 100 substantiallyencloses the product or object 402 to provide a substantially sealedenclosure 404 about the object or product 402 that is being sanitized bythe sanitizing agent transferring 406 through the second layer 104. Asshown in FIG. 4, after the object 402 is substantially enclosed andprotected by the gas impermeable (or low gas permeable) outer layer,which is layer one 102, the enclosed object or product 402 can benefitfrom the extended sanitizing effect of the sanitizing agent comprisingthe ozone gas because outer contaminants are generally prevented frominvading and contaminating the sanitized object 402 in the enclosure 404due to the outer protective layer one 102.

As shown in FIG. 5, a collection of stores 504 can be created on a sheetor film area 502 to provide sanitizing effect about the surface of anobject or product to be sanitized. For example, a sheet of film wrap orpackaging 502 can include a plurality of stores 504 that substantiallycapture sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas for use to sanitize anobject. After the third barrier layer is removed from the second gaspermeable layer of the sheet, the plastic film sheet 502 can be used towrap and substantially enclose an object or food product and therebyprovide sanitizing agent to the object while maintaining the outercontaminants away from the sanitized surfaces of the object enclosedwithin the wrapped plastic film sheet 502. Layer one 102 of the plasticfilm sheet provides a substantial barrier to these external contaminantsthereby extending the sanitizing benefit provided to the object withinthe wrap or packaging in close proximity to the second layer 104 whichis gas permeable.

In a preferred alternative embodiment of the present invention, thestrippable third layer 108 is located in strips over select stores 106such that the sheet 502 can be re-used by releasing certain stores 106for each application of the sanitizing sheet 502. Each time that thesheet 502 is to be used, a certain collection of stores 106 can bereleased to allow the transfer of sanitizing agent comprising ozone gasfrom the released stores 106. Those stores 106 that remain covered by asealing layer 108, will also be activated and contain the sanitizingagent comprising ozone gas. However, ozone in these stores will convertback to oxygen if not released and used in a particular sanitizingapplication. Thereafter, another at least one strip of the strippablethird layer 108 can be removed from the sheet 502 to release anothercollection of stores 106 for another application (re-use) of the sheet502. By applying a subsequent exposure to UV energy, for example, thosestores that have been subsequently released will contain the sanitizingagent comprising ozone gas and will transfer their contents to an objector product in a sanitizing application re-using the sanitizing sheet502. This is a significant advantage of the present invention thatallows re-use of the structure 100 for repeated sanitizing applications.

In one preferred alternative embodiment, a plurality of strips 108 arearranged about the sheet 502 with one or more strips 108 in association,such as indicated by a common attribute such as a common colorizationtreatment to indicate the association. The at least one strip 108, asindicated such as by a common color of the at least one strip 108, isthen removed by a user of the sanitizing sheet 502 to re-use the sheet502 in a sanitizing re-application by activating and releasing aplurality of stores 106 covered by the at least one strip 108. For asubsequent sanitizing application (re-use of the sheet 502), forexample, the user would remove a second at least one strip 108 of adifferent color. For example, a blue colored association of strips 108would be removed for a first sanitizing application of the sheet 502,and then a yellow colored association of strips 108 would be removed bythe user for a second sanitizing application (re-use of the sheet 502).As can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, otherattributes of the association of the at least one strip 108 can be usedto indicate grouping for common release in sanitizing applications andre-use of the sanitizing sheet 502. For example, patterns and/or colorson or about an association of strips 108 can be used as indicators of acommon use for a sanitizing application. Also, shapes of the at leastone strip can be used to indicate a common grouping for a common use ina sanitizing application of the sheet 502.

Referring to FIG. 6, an alternative preferred embodiment of the presentinvention comprises the first layer 102 and the second layer 104 similarto the discussion above, while omitting the third layer 108 as aseparate independent structure. Consequently, the removable barriereffect of the third layer 108, namely until the product or object is tobe wrapped or packed for sanitizing, is provided by a separate portionof the second layer 104 that is located in close proximity and/ormechanically coupled and/or in direct contact with the other portion ofthe second layer 104. This is shown in FIG. 6, where the sheet providingthe at least one store 106 of the sanitizing agent comprising the ozonegas is folded onto itself, thereby making contact between two surfacesof the inner second layer 104 within the fold of the sheet. This contactbetween portions of the second layer 104 provides sufficient barriereffect to maintain the sanitizing agent comprising the ozone gasreliably stored in the storage regions of the sheet of wrap orpackaging, until initial use with an object.

The barrier effect is aided by surface contact between the two portionsof the second layer 104 and, where the contact is minimal or merely inclose proximity between the two portions, a captured gas or fluid canprovide sufficient barrier pressure to the second layer 104 therebyretaining the stored sanitizing agent in the stores 106,602. A gas, suchas comprising a high concentration of carbon dioxide being capturedin-between the two portions of the second layer 104 folded into itselfmay provide significant gas pressure upon micro-perforations (not shownin this figure) of the second layer 104 to reduce any significanttransfer of the sanitizing agent from the at least one store 106 throughthe micro-perforations of the second layer 104. Additionally, the highconcentration of carbon dioxide gas atmosphere is a substitute for anair or other nitrogen containing atmosphere. It may be desirable, incertain applications, to minimize the nitrogen content of an atmospherethat may be subjected to energizing ultra-violet light energy and couldresult in undesirable nitric oxides or nitrous oxides, as will bediscussed in detail below.

This configuration for the wrapping and/or packaging structure 100allows easy storage and quick and efficient deployment of a wrap and/orpackaging sheet ready to provide the sanitizing effect of the sanitizingagent comprising ozone gas to at least a portion of an object beingwrapped and/or packaged. When the sheet is unfolded and the gaspermeable second layer 104 is spread apart from the two contacting orclose proximity portions it essentially activates the gas permeablelayer to begin to transfer the sanitizing agent from the stores 106,602.The transfer rate normally is not instantaneous and can be selected to atime duration permitting a user of such a wrap and/or packaging ampletime to utilize the wrap and/or packaging on a product to be sanitized.

In prior art packaging methods, such as modified atmosphere packaging(MAP) or active packaging, a food product is introduced into a packagingand then a modified atmosphere is introduced into the packaging uponseal. The modified atmosphere typically is introduced by some form ofinjection or similar process after the product has been packaged. This,unfortunately, has the consequence that normally only a certain portionof the product is exposed to the modified atmosphere upon packaging.This is mainly due to the product being pre-packaged in a container andthen the modified atmosphere being introduced from one side, usually thetop side, of the packaging thereby exposing only that immediate side ofthe product to the modified atmosphere. However, other significant sidesof the package and food product are normally not immediately exposed tothe modified atmosphere. The modified atmosphere generally has to travelthrough the packaged product to reach some of the other surfaces of theproduct. Therefore, any contaminants on surfaces of the product notdirectly exposed to the modified atmosphere may not be significantlyaffected by the modified atmosphere.

Referring to FIG. 7, an alternative preferred embodiment of the presentinvention comprises a modified second layer 104 in the wrapping and/orpackaging structure 100. To increase the transfer rate of the sanitizingagent comprising the ozone gas at least a portion of a second layerstructure 702 preferably includes micro-perforations 704 that arepreferably selectively located to enhance the transfer rate of the atleast one store 106 when the sanitizing structure 100 is in use with anobject or product to be sanitized. By selectively locating themicro-perforations 704 the transfer rate of individual stores 106 and/orthe transfer rate associated with different portions of a wrap and/orpackaging structure 100 can be selected for particular applications.Note that the second layer 104 can include a gas permeable layer, ormicro-perforations, or both, to select a transfer rate for sanitizingagent comprising ozone gas for particular applications.

The micro-perforations 704 create channels from the store side of thesecond layer 104 containing the sanitizing agent comprising the ozonegas to the opposing side of the second layer 104. When the second layer104 is exposed to close proximity to the surface of an object, themicro-perforations 704 transfer the sanitizing agent from the at leastone store 106 to the surface of the object thereby providing thebeneficial sanitizing effect to the object. The micro-perforations 704preferably are located about the store area of the second layerstructure 702 to allow the transfer of sanitizing agent when the wiping,wrapping, and/or packaging structure 100 is used to sanitize the object.In certain applications, a wiping action utilizing the structure 100,such as via micro-perforations 704, can quickly provide sufficientsanitizing agent comprising ozone gas to a surface of an object orproduct to provide substantial beneficial sanitizing effect to theobject or product. Thereafter, the structure 100 can be removed, oralternatively can be used as a wrap or package to provide extendedsanitizing benefit to the object or product. For example, cuts or woundsmay benefit from a sanitizing wiping structure 100 that can beconveniently used to provide sanitizing benefit and then can optionallybe used to wrap or bandage the cuts or wounds to extend cleanliness andto enhance a healing process.

Micro-perforations 704 located towards the center portion of the store106 may come in contact with different surfaces of the object thanmicro-perforations located towards the outer periphery portions of thestore 106. In this way therefore, by strategically locating themicro-perforations 704 and channels across the at least one store 106,the at least one store 106 can deliver significant sanitizing agent tothe surfaces of the object that are exposed to the channels 704 that cantransfer sanitizing agent. This is particularly helpful for objects thathave uneven surfaces and may come in contact with some but not all ofthe micro-perforations and channels 704 thereby allowing through theopen channels 704 the transfer of sanitizing agent. Note that the thirdlayer 108 is a removable layer such as generally described with respectto FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 2, and/or as may be recognized by those skilled inthe art.

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, an alternative preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is shown. A plurality of stores 106 are preferablyarranged in a staggered pattern in a sheet of wrapping or packagingmaterial such that, when folded to locate two portions 804 of the sheetin close proximity to each other, as shown in FIG. 8B, the stores 106are located in between each other, in a staggered arrangement, to reducethe overall height of the folded sheet 802 thereby enhancing the storageand portability of the wrapping and/or packaging structure due to theoverall size or height thereof. Additionally, interlaced stores 106 canmake surface contact with other stores 106 from the opposing portion ofthe sheet thereby helping to seal and contain the micro-perforations 704and channels 704 to prevent the sanitizing agent from transferring outof the stores 106 until ready to use. When ready to use, the sheet 802is unfolded and the stores 106 are separated such that themicro-perforations and channels 704 are not sealed or contained. Thisallows the sanitizing agent comprising the ozone gas to begintransferring from the stores 106 through the channels andmicro-perforations 704 in the second layer 702 and to permeate about,and make contact with, the surface of the object to be sanitized.

In one alternative embodiment, the wrap and/or packaging can be storedin a fan folded multi-layer structure 902 as shown in FIG. 9. Theplurality of stores 106 face each other via a plurality of portions 904of the second layer 702 that are fan folded to face each other. Thebarrier to each portion of the second layer 702 is a correspondingopposing portion of the second layer 702 that is fan folded to create atemporary barrier layer thereby substantially maintaining the sanitizingagent comprising ozone gas in the stores 106 until ready to use. Whenthe wrap or packaging material is ready to use, a length of the fanfolded wrap and packaging material is unfolded thereby exposing thesecond layer 702 and separating the opposing portions of the secondlayer 702 thereby allowing the sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas tobe released from the stores 106. The object is wrapped and/or packagedwith the wrapping and packaging structure such that the second layer 702is in contact with, or close proximity to, the surface of the objectthereby transferring sanitizing agent to the surface of the object toprovide the sanitizing effect thereto. Once the object is wrapped and/orpackaged within the wrapping or packaging structure, the gas impermeable(or low gas permeable) layer one 102 maintains and extends thesanitizing effect to the object while providing a barrier to externalcontaminants and unsanitary conditions thereby enhancing and prolongingthe beneficial sanitizing effect to the object.

Preferably, prior to use, the fan folded wrap or packaging structure hasbeen folded in a controlled atmosphere environment comprising a highconcentration of carbon dioxide gas and preferably comprising a minimalamount, such as a near zero amount, of nitrogen gas. In this way,between the layers of the fan folded wrapping and/or packaging structureis substantially captured an atmosphere comprising a high concentrationof carbon dioxide and a very low or near zero concentration of nitrogengas.

As an alternative exemplary storage arrangement to that shown in FIGS.8A, 8B, and 9, a spool of the wrap and/or packaging structure 902, orsheet 802, contains the plurality of stores 106 wound in layers of thestructure 902 about the spool. The plurality of stores 106 aremaintained sealed in between the windings of the sheet 802 wound on thespool where the second layer 702 is in substantial contact with thefirst layer 102. For example, in one application, the contact can sealand contain the micro-perforations 704 and channels 704 to prevent thesanitizing agent from transferring out of the plurality of stores 106until ready to use. The entire wound sheet 802 about the spool can beexposed, for example, to ultraviolet energy when ready to use. A portionof the sheet 802 is unwound from the spool and the stores 106 on thatportion are separated from the sealing layer of the wound sheet 802. Inone example, a seal is removed from micro-perforations and channels 704on that unwound portion of the sheet 802 which allows the sanitizingagent comprising the ozone gas to begin transferring from the stores 106through the channels and micro-perforations 704 in the second layer 702.The portion of the sheet 802 can be used, for example, to wrap a productand thereby the sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas can make contactwith the surface of the wrapped product to be sanitized.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the atleast one store 106 is filled with a gas atmosphere comprising arelatively pure oxygen gas with near zero concentration of nitrogen gas.A mixture of approximately 30% carbon dioxide and 70% oxygen, forexample, can remain stable in the at least one store 106 until ready tobe used in a sanitizing application. However, higher or lowerconcentrations of oxygen gas may be desired for particular applications.Then, ultraviolet energy radiation, preferably with peak energy in the185 nm wavelength range and with significantly reduced energy in the 253nm wavelength range, can be radiated to the at least one store 106 toenergize and convert the oxygen gas to ozone gas. This process activatesthe contents of the at least one store 106 to provide a sanitizing agenttherein.

The oxygen gas is a much more stable form of gas than the ozone gas. Theoxygen gas therefore has a long shelf life and can be stored relativelyreliably in the at least one store 106 until ready to be used.

It is a well known principle that ozone gas can be formed from oxygengas by increasing the energy of the oxygen to create the ozone gas. Thegeneral process of converting oxygen gas to ozone gas is a wellunderstood process. By using an energy source, such as an ultravioletradiation energy source or an electrical corona discharge radiationenergy source, oxygen gas can efficiently and relatively quickly (inseconds) be converted to ozone gas. Accordingly, an energy source thatconverts oxygen to ozone, as anticipated by those of ordinary skill inthe art, may be usable in accordance with the preferred embodiments ofthe present invention. Additionally, the oxygen gas and the ozone gasmay exist in a gas atmosphere, and alternatively in a fluid atmosphere,in the at least one store 106. Accordingly, an agent contained in the atleast one store 106 may comprise gas, and alternatively fluid, thatincludes the oxygen for conversion to the ozone. The oxygen can beenergized and converted to ozone to provide a sanitizing agent in the atleast one store 106. The oxygen can be energized by the energy source asdiscussed above to provide the sanitizing agent comprising ozone in theat least one store 106.

For example, a source of ultraviolet energy, e.g., UV radiation about185 nanometer (nm) wavelength, is efficient at converting oxygen toozone. However, UV radiation about a 253 nm wavelength range, althoughexhibiting anti-bacterial killing properties, tends to be destructive ofozone. That is, ozone will quickly convert back to oxygen when energizedby the about 253 nm wavelength ultraviolet radiation. Therefore,according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the UVenergy source preferably has a peak radiation output about 185 nmwavelength and exhibits little or no radiated energy about the 253 nmwavelength range.

Certain UV sources, such as utilizing elements comprising mercury gas orother such gas, can be very effective at radiating UV energy at thedesired 185 nm wavelength range. Additionally, there are new and veryefficient and reliable UV sources based on ultraviolet and blue lasertechnologies that emit radiation about the desired 185 nm wavelengthrange. For example, there are electronic devices, such as laser diodesbased on gallium nitride, that can provide a reliable source for thedesired ultraviolet energy radiation. These laser diodes have beenmeasured to provide UV radiation during thousands of hours of reliableuse. Additionally, a UV filtering barrier, e.g., a sheet of quartzmaterial with UV filtering properties added thereto, can be locatedbetween the UV energy source and the target at least one store 106. Sucha UV filter preferably provides a bandpass of the UV energy radiation,as necessary in a particular application, to allow pass through of thedesired 185 nm wavelength range while significantly blocking orattenuating the undesired 253 nm wavelength range.

When other gases and chemicals are present with the oxygen during thisconversion process, such as when ozone is generated from ambient air,then other by-product resulting gases and chemicals may be undesirablycreated along with the ozone gas. This is the case, for example, whenozone gas is created utilizing conventional air ozonators that draw infiltered ambient air and energize it to create ozone. Unfortunately,such other undesirable gases and/or chemicals as nitric oxide and/ornitrous oxide may also be created. These unfortunate by-productstypically exhibit strong acidic effects which can damage certainsensitive surfaces of objects and products to be sanitized. Therefore,in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ozone, with it'sdesirable anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-pathogen, and sanitizingeffect, is created from an agent that comprises a high concentration ofpure oxygen and a very low or preferably a near zero concentration ofnitrogen. In this way, the conversion process from oxygen to ozoneprecludes additionally creating the undesirable by-product gases andchemicals such as from the combination of the nitrogen with the oxygenduring the conversion process while attempting to create ozone. Thiswill substantially preclude the creation of these undesirable byproductgases and chemicals. According to a preferred embodiment, a substitutegas such as carbon dioxide is used to complement the oxygen gas in abalanced atmosphere allowing a selected concentration of ozone from pureoxygen to be created as part of a sanitizing agent, as will be discussedin more detail below.

According to the preferred embodiment, a sanitizing wrapping orpackaging structure 100 includes at least one store 106 that contains asanitizing agent preferably comprising pure ozone gas. That is, pureozone gas is preferably made from an atmosphere containing oxygen gasand with very little or near zero nitrogen gas thereby precluding muchof the undesired by-product gases as discussed above.

The at least one store 106 is created preferably between the first andsecond layer 102,104, to contain a gas atmosphere that preferablyinitially includes a high concentration of oxygen gas and a minimal orno significant presence of nitrogen gas. Carbon dioxide gas, forexample, can be included in the at least one store 106 with the highconcentration of oxygen gas. The wrapping and/or packaging structure100, in a preferred embodiment, is transparent (not opaque) toultraviolet light allowing ultraviolet light energy to pass through thefirst layer 102, or the second layer 104, or both, as illustrated inFIG. 10. Plastic film that is non-UV inhibiting is desired for efficientdelivery of the UV energy to the at least one store 106. AvoidUV-inhibiting additives being added to the plastic film. The ultravioletlight energy stimulates the oxygen increasing the energy of the oxygengas and causing the oxygen to convert to ozone gas. This is typically avery quick (in seconds) process.

In one alternative embodiment of the present invention, a plastic filmused for layer one 102 and a gas permeable plastic film used for layertwo 104 comprises a gas containing flexible film structural arrangementfor providing the at least one store 106. The at least one store 106initially contains a high concentration of oxygen atmosphere withpreferably no significant amount of nitrogen gas mixed therein. Thestructural arrangement permits ultraviolet light radiation 1006,1008, asshown in FIG. 10, from at least one UV source 1002,1004, to activate andenergize the oxygen contained within the at least one store 106 tocreate a high concentration of pure ozone gas atmosphere within thestore 106. Further, the absence of nitrogen gas precludes the energizingof the atmosphere from creating undesirable by-product gases andchemicals such as nitric oxide or nitrous oxide in the store 106.

By storing the more stable oxygen gas in the at least one store 106, thewrapping and/or packaging structure 100 with the at least one store 106benefits from a long shelf life and reliable storage. At a point in timewithin a reasonable proximity to a desired time for using the wrapand/or packaging material for sanitizing an object, the oxygencontaining wrapping and/or packaging material can be subjected to theultraviolet light energy to activate and energize the oxygen to createthe sanitizing agent comprising pure ozone gas within the at least onestore 106. The ozone gas remains contained in the at least one store 106for a significant amount of time, such as minutes and/or possibly hours,before the wrapping and/or packaging structure 100 is to be used toprovide sanitizing effect to an object. Ozone gas is normally in anunstable state. After a maximum storage time, the ozone gas typicallyloses its reactive characteristics and converts back to the stable formof oxygen gas. However, this maximum storage time provides plenty oftime for using the sanitizing wrap and/or packaging structure 100 totransfer the sanitizing agent comprising the ozone gas to an object tobe sanitized. Therefore, the wrap and/or packaging structure 100containing the pure oxygen in the at least one store 106 can beactivated and/or energized by an energy source, such as the ultravioletradiation source, to provide the sanitizing agent comprising ozone gasin the at least one store 106.

The energizing of the oxygen to create the ozone can be done prior to asanitizing application on an object, as well as while the object iscovered, wrapped or packaged by the wrapping and/or packaging structure100. In the latter case, the object is already in close proximity and/orpackaged within the wrap and/or packaging structure 100 while the UVsource energizes a captured atmosphere comprising the oxygen to providethe sanitizing agent comprising the ozone gas. However, it is desirableto energize and convert the oxygen to ozone while contained in the atleast one store 106. For example, in certain applications it may bedesired to avoid potential contamination with nitrogen gas from ambientair during the energizing of the oxygen to create the pure ozone. Asanother example, the UV energy can potentially cause damage to sensitivesurfaces of certain objects. As illustrated by such exemplary cases, itmay be preferable to have the oxygen be energized and converted to pureozone gas while captured in the at least one store 106. Then thewrapping and/or packaging structure 100 with the sanitizing agentcomprising ozone gas can be used to sanitize the object.

Ozone may also be created from the oxygen in the ambient air surroundingthe at least one store 106 while energizing the oxygen in the at leastone store. For example, a UV source will deliver UV energy both to thegas in the at least one store 106 and to the surrounding ambientatmosphere. This ozone from ambient air may be undesirable in certainapplications. For example, the ozone created from ambient air maydetrimentally affect the air quality in an enclosed work area for peopleand animals.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, a novel construction and arrangement for adevice providing at least one UV source utilizes the fact discussedabove that the UV radiation about the 253 nm wavelength range willquickly convert ozone gas to harmless oxygen gas. In a work area, asshown, a structure comprising at least one store 106 receives UVradiation energy 1605 at about the desired 185 nm wavelength range. Thistends to also energize and create undesired ozone gas 1610 in theambient atmosphere surrounding the work area. It is desired to convertthe oxygen gas in the at least one store 106 to ozone gas while at thesame time converting ozone gas 1610 that may be present in the ambientatmosphere surrounding the work area to harmless oxygen gas 1612.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, an exemplary device 1602 includes a first UVsource 1604 that provides the desired UV energy radiation 1605 at aboutthe 185 nm wavelength range. This radiated energy 1605 energizes theoxygen gas in the at least one store 106. Additionally, the radiatedenergy 1605 energizes the oxygen in the ambient atmosphere and createsundesired ozone gas 1610. According to this example, the first UV source1604 tends to heat the ambient atmosphere with the ozone gas 1610. Thisgas mixture tends to rise due to convection as shown. The device 1602includes a set of baffle chambers 1608 that allow the gas atmospherewith the ozone gas 1610 to enter an inner chamber containing a second UVsource 1606 that provides UV energy radiation at about the 253 nmwavelength range. The second UV source 1606 converts ozone gas 1610 toharmless oxygen gas 1612 that by convection exits through the upperportion of the set of baffle chambers 1608 in the device 1602. Thissecond UV source 1606 is shielded by the walls of the set of bafflechambers 1608 from radiating on the work space where the structurecomprising the at least one store 106 receives UV radiation energy 1605from the first UV source 1604. The first UV source 1604 thereforeradiates UV energy at the at least one store 106 at the desired 185 nmwavelength range to create ozone gas while the second UV source radiateswithin the inner chamber to convert ozone gas 1610 to harmless oxygengas 1612. This device, as shown in FIG. 16, can energize the structurewith the at least one store 106 as the structure is moving 1614 relativeto the device 1602. The device 1602, therefore, can be located on astationary base, e.g., where the structure with the at least one store106 can be moved 1614 either manually or mechanically such as by aconveyor mechanism, or alternatively the device 1602 can be moved 1614(either manually or mechanically) across a work space to energize andactivate the sanitizing agent in the at least one store 106. Althoughthe device 1602, in this example, is illustrated utilizing convectionenergy to draw the ozone gas 1610 through the device 1602, it shouldbecome obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art that other means ofmoving the gas 1610 through the device are intended within the scope ofthe present invention. For example, an oscillating fan, a piezoelectricvibrator, or other such vibrator associated with the device 1602 canmove gas through the device 1602 to pass the ozone gas 1610 through theinner chamber for the second UV source 1606 to convert the ozone gas1610 to oxygen gas 1612. Also, a tube (not shown) coupled to the upperportion of the device 1602 can provide an exhaust path for guiding thegas 1612 away from the work space.

Additionally, in certain packaging applications oxygen atmosphere is notdesired for any extended period of time to be in contact with the objector product being packaged. For example, oxygen can oxidize and degradefood quality over time. Accordingly, it may be desirable to utilize anoxygen scavenger means in combination with the wrapping and/or packagingstructure 100 according to the present invention to provide thesanitizing benefit of the sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas to theobject or product and thereafter remove any remaining oxygen from thepackaging or wrapping to reduce the undesirable effects on the object orproduct. Oxygen scavenging packaging technology is generally wellunderstood by those skilled in the art. Oxygen scavenging producttechnologies such as oxygen scavenging sachets, labels, coatings, andpolymers, are commercially available for use in different applications.

For example, a UV energy activated oxygen scavenger technology iscommercially available, such as from Cryovac, a division of the SealedAir Corporation, located in New Jersey, USA. The technology is offeredunder the packaging system called OS1000. It utilizes a polymer filmthat is part of the packaging, such as in a MAP application, and a UVlight activating system to trigger the oxygen scavenging properties ofthe polymer when desired.

In such an exemplary application, and according to an alternativeembodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of layer one 102of the wrapping and/or packaging structure 100 comprises the polymerfilm with the UV energy activated oxygen scavenging properties. The UVenergy can be applied to the wrapping and/or packaging structure 100 inaccordance with the present invention to activate the sanitizing agentcomprising ozone gas and to activate the oxygen scavenging properties ofthe polymer. The wrapping and/or packaging structure 100, in closeproximity and/or in contact with an object or product, then transfersthe beneficial sanitizing effect to the surface of the object orproduct. This is a relatively faster process than the oxygen scavengingprocess of the activated polymer.

For example, the sanitizing effect can be transferred in seconds fromthe at least one store 106 to the object or product, while the oxygenscavenging process of the polymer operates much slower, such as takinghours or days to effectively remove residual oxygen from the wrappedand/or packaged product or object. In this way, for example, a singleexposure to UV energy can both activate the sanitizing agent comprisingozone gas in the at least one store 106 and activate the oxygenscavenging properties of the polymer. The wrapping and/or packagingstructure 100, when activated with the UV energy, can wrap and/orpackage the object or product and transfer thereto the sanitizing agentcomprising ozone gas and additionally can gradually scavenge theresidual oxygen after sanitizing the object or product to reduce theundesirable effects of long term exposure to oxygen.

Additionally, as can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art,the polymer film discussed above can be alternatively arranged withrespect to the wrapping and/or packaging structure 100 for differentapplications, and optionally utilizing more than one exposure to UVenergy, to activate the sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas tosanitize the object or product and then to substantially scavenge theremaining oxygen from a wrapped and/or packaged object. For example, thepolymer film can be arranged as a portion of the wrapping and/orpackaging structure 100, or as a separate sheet, where a first exposureto UV energy activates the sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas tosanitize the object or product and a second exposure to UV energyactivates the oxygen scavenging properties of the polymer film toextract the remaining oxygen from the wrapped and/or packaged object orproduct.

For example, the polymer film can be arranged as a portion of thewrapping or packaging structure 100, such as at least one strip or flapportion or the wrapping and/or packaging structure 100. The UV energycan be selectively exposed on the portion of the wrapping and/orpackaging structure 100 to activate the sanitizing agent comprisingozone. For example, an ultraviolet wand or bar 1102, as shown in FIG.11, can have selected portions of the UV energy source blocked toprevent exposure of UV energy over certain portions of the sheet. Then,the object or product is wrapped and/or packaged and the sanitizingagent is transferred to the object or product. Then, a second exposureto UV energy over the entire sheet wrapping and/or packaging the objectcan activate the polymer portion of the wrapping and/or packagingstructure 100 to begin the oxygen scavenging process. This secondexposure, for example, can be handled in a UV opaque container that oneinserts at least a portion of the wrapped and/or packaged object orproduct. A UV energy source in the container can be used to activate theoxygen scavenging properties of the polymer.

Alternatively, the polymer film can be arranged as a separate sheet thatis separately activated with UV energy and inserted in proximity to, andoptionally interposed between, a portion of the object or product andthe wrapping and/or packaging structure 100. In this way, the sanitizingagent comprising ozone gas sanitizes the wrapped and/or packaged objector product and then the polymer film substantially scavenges theremaining oxygen from the wrapped and/or packaged object or product.

Note that the term object is used broadly with respect to the presentinvention. An object as contemplated herein, for example, can representany product, object, instrument, human or animal anatomy, or anyportions thereof, and regardless of whether in solid, fluid, gel, or anyother state, as dictated by a particular application in accordance withthe present invention.

As shown in FIG. 11, an ultraviolet wand or bar 1102 can serve as anenergizing and activating source for converting the oxygen gas to ozonegas contained in the at least one store 106. For example, a sheetdispensing operation, prior to using such sheet 1100 as a sanitizingwrap and/or sanitizing packaging structure 100, includes an energizingand activation of the sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas contained inthe sheet.

Before using the wrapping and/or packaging structure 100 for sanitizingan object, the wrapping and/or packaging structure 100 preferablycontains in the at least one store 106 a gas atmosphere comprising arelatively high concentration of oxygen gas and a relatively minimal orno significant presence of nitrogen gas therein. Optionally, a mixtureof carbon dioxide gas can be included with the oxygen in the atmospherein the at least one store 106 to help fill the at least one store 106while allowing a selectable concentration of pure oxygen gas in the mix.Accordingly, before, or during, using the wrapping and/or packagingstructure in a sanitizing application, preferably an ultraviolet energysource, such as the UV bar 1102 shown in FIG. 11 or optionally a flat UVpanel (not shown), can be used to energize and convert the oxygen gas inthe wrapping and/or packaging structure 100 to ozone gas. In this way,at least in part a sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas is contained inthe at least one store 106. As an example illustrated in FIG. 11, theultraviolet light wand or bar 1102 preferably includes a guide channel1104 whereby the sheet 1100 of packaging and/or wrapping material can beinserted (as shown by directional arrows 1106) and exposed to theultraviolet light source (in the UV wand or bar) across a substantialportion of the surface of the wrapping and/or packaging structure 100.

In one example, the wrapping and/or packaging material can be slidacross the channel 1104 in the ultraviolet light bar 1102 to provide theultraviolet radiation across the length of a sheet 1100 of the wrappingand/or packaging structure 100. The ultraviolet bar or wand, in thisexample, is located in close proximity to the surface of the wrappingand/or packaging structure 100 to deliver the ultraviolet energythereto. Optionally, a reflective surface on one side of the length ofthe channel 1104 in the ultraviolet light bar 1102 allows reflection ofultraviolet light thereby permitting the ultraviolet light bar toutilize a single source of ultraviolet light on one side of the guide toenergize from multiple directions to cover the opposing sides of thesheet with UV energy. That is, the UV energy passes from one side andthen passes through the UV transparent packaging and/or wrappingmaterial and then any ultraviolet light that passes through the materialis reflected back through the material towards the UV source. In thisway, the ultraviolet radiation is provided to opposing surfaces of thesheet 1100 comprising a wrapping and/or packaging structure 100 whilethe sheet 1100 is sliding through the guide 1104 in the ultravioletlight bar 1102. Alternatively, two sources of ultraviolet light can belocated on opposing sides of the guide thereby providing ultravioletradiation from a source at each surface on top and bottom of the sheet1100 of the wrapping and/or packaging structure 100. In view of thediscussion above, other arrangements of the ultraviolet energy source(s)and/or reflective surfaces to help enhance the amount of ultravioletradiation transferred to the wrapping and/or packaging structure 100 toactivate and convert the oxygen to ozone are anticipated within thescope of the present invention.

The UV source can be provided in other shapes and arrangements for usein different applications for energizing and activating a sanitizingagent comprising ozone gas. For example, a flat panel UV source cancover and energize at least one store 106 in a rectangular area on asheet. This flat panel UV source arrangement can energize larger sheetareas than the UV bar discussed above. As a second example, the UVsource can be located within a container to energize the inside of thecontainer, such as within a box, bottle, or can. In this way, the UVsource activates sanitizing agent within the at least one store 106 inthe wrapping and/or packaging structure 100 located in the container.Other UV source shapes, arrangements, and configurations can be readilyanticipated by one of ordinary skill in the art for use in differentpackaging applications in accordance with the present invention.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the packagingmaterial is arranged in the form of a bag, as illustrated in FIGS. 12and 13. The exemplary bag 1200 shown in FIG. 12 comprises a foldable bag1200 which includes side pleats 1202 to allow flat folding the bag 1200for easy and convenient storage. The bag 1200 also includes, accordingto a preferred embodiment, an opening 1204 at one end for receiving anobject or a product within the bag 1200. This 1204 opening preferablyincludes a re-sealable locking channel 1206 and mating tab 1208structure to allow the bag 1200 to be sealed by mating the tab structurewith the channel structure at the opening 1204 of the bag. In this way,the bag 1200 can be stored relatively flat with the sealed openingmaintaining the inner portion of the bag in a sealed and sanitaryenclosure until ready to be used. When the bag is ready to be used, thetab and channel structures can be pulled apart to open the bag and thenan object or a product, such as a food product or a medical instrument,can be stored in the inner portion of the bag and then the opening canbe re-sealed by re-mating the tab and channel structures together. Seefor example FIG. 13 with a food product 1302 shown stored in the bag1200.

As shown in FIG. 13, a food product, such as a piece of poultry 1302, isstored and packaged in the bag 1200 thereby receiving the beneficialsanitizing effect of the sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas beingtransferred from the at least one store 106 in the bag 1200. The pieceof poultry 1302 is stored or packaged conveniently and sanitized in thebag 1200 for enhancing the sanitary and hygienic conditions of the pieceof poultry 1302 for an extended period of time. The sealed bag 1200provides a barrier against external contaminants thereby prolonging thebeneficial sanitizing effect. In this way, the sanitizing packaging canbe conveniently stored and used to sanitize and/or reducemicro-organisms from the food product stored in the bag 1200.

Accordingly, in the stored condition, prior to use, the bag 1200comprises at least one store 106 that preferably contains a gas mixturecomprising a high concentration of pure oxygen and optionally a portionof carbon dioxide gas with minimal or no presence of nitrogen gas.Additionally, the inner portions of the bag preferably contain a sealedenvironment that optionally comprises a high concentration of carbondioxide gas to maintain a minimal atmosphere therein. However, theminimal atmosphere preferably comprises no amount of nitrogen gas.

When ready to use, the bag can be subjected to an ultraviolet energysource providing energy through the outer gas impermeable (or low gaspermeable) layer of the bag through to the stores containing the highconcentration of oxygen gas. An ultraviolet energy source, such asdiscussed before, would radiate through the bag 1200. The first layer102 and second layer 104,702, which may include micro-perforations 704,in one alternative embodiment, would be transparent to the UV energyallowing energizing the inner portions of the sealed bag 1200 and thestores 106 contained therein. In this way, an ultraviolet energy sourcecan radiate through the bag 1200 and energize and activate the oxygengas contained in the at least one store 106 in the bag 1200 and convertthe oxygen gas to a high concentration of pure ozone. Because there isminimal or no concentration of nitrogen gas in the bag there will be noundesirable byproduct gases and/or chemicals in the bag. After the baghas been energized and the pure oxygen is substantially converted topure ozone in the bag in the stores, the bag is ready to be used tostore and package an object or a product for sanitizing the producttherein. The bag can be opened, by pulling apart the channel structure1206 from the tab structure 1208 about the opening 1204, and theninserting the object or product to be sanitized, such as the piece ofpoultry 1302, in the bag 1200.

Further, the micro-perforations 704 and/or permeability of the secondlayer 104,702, can be selectively located over portions of the inner bagstructure to enhance the transfer rate of the sanitizing agentcomprising ozone gas in certain portions of the inner bag, whileproviding a selected slower transfer rate over other portions of theinner bag. This selective fast and slow transfer rate provided overdifferent stores 106, for example, can provide a rapid transfer ofsanitizing agent comprising ozone gas to provide immediate beneficialsanitizing effect to a product in the bag while additionally providingan extended sanitizing effect to the food product over a longer periodof time. Ozone gas normally has a relatively short period of time forsanitizing an object or product once exposed to and contacting thesurface of an object or product before the ozone converts to oxygen andmixes with any fluids of the object or product. Therefore, for example,by staggering the selected transfer rate of proximate stores 106 in thebag structure, the bag can provide both an immediate beneficialsanitizing effect and a continuous extended sanitizing effect over theentire surface area of the inner bag structure such as to enhance awrapped or packaged product's shelf life.

While the bag has remained sealed, the stores 106 have contained thehigh concentration of oxygen gas. The inner compartment of the bag 1200preferably has substantially remained in an atmosphere comprising a highconcentration of carbon dioxide. After the UV energy source radiatesthrough the bag 1200, the oxygen is substantially converted to ozonegas, and the sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas is ready to be usedon the object or product.

Additionally, opposing surfaces of the portions of the second layer104,702, within the bag help to provide a retaining and capturing effectfor the stores 106 to retain the gas atmosphere comprising a highconcentration of pure oxygen. The opposing portions of the second layer104,702 tend to contact at the surfaces or remain in close proximity toeach other thereby providing sealing pressure to contain the gasatmosphere within the stores 106 until ready to be used.

When the bag 1200 is opened the second layer 104,702 begins to allowtransfer of the sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas from the storesinto the main compartment of the bag. This transfer rate is notinstantaneous. It is a gradual process that allows ample time forinserting an object or a product in the bag 1200 and then closing orsealing the bag 1200 about a closure structure about the opening, suchas discussed above, to maintain the product and/or object sealed withinthe bag 1200 while providing the beneficial sanitizing effect to thesurfaces of the object.

Furthermore, the stores 106 in the inner bag structure can beselectively released for use in a sanitizing application such that thebag can be reused to provide sanitizing benefit to a product over anumber of subsequent uses. For example, a plurality of strippable layerstrips 108 (such as illustrated in FIG. 1) can be selectively coveringcertain stores 106 in a bag 1200. For each sanitizing application of thebag 1200, a user can selectively remove at least one of the plurality ofstrippable layer strips 108 to activate and release the sanitizing agentcomprising ozone gas contained in the stores 106 covered by the removedat least one of the plurality of strippable layer strips 108.

In one preferred alternative embodiment, a plurality of strips 108 arearranged about the inner bag with one or more strips 108 in association,such as indicated by a common attribute such as a common colorizationtreatment to indicate the association. The at least one strip 108, asindicated such as by a common color of the at least one strip 108, isthen removed by a user of the bag to re-use the bag in a sanitizingre-application by activating and releasing a plurality of stores 106covered by the at least one strip 108. For a subsequent sanitizingapplication (re-use of the bag), for example, the user would remove asecond at least one strip 108 of a different common color. For example,a blue colored association of strips 108 would be removed for a firstsanitizing application of the bag, and then a yellow colored associationof strips 108 would be removed by the user for a second sanitizingapplication (re-use of the bag). As can be appreciated by those skilledin the art, other attributes of the association of the at least onestrip 108 can be used to indicate grouping for common release insanitizing applications and re-use of the sanitizing bag. For example,patterns and/or colors on or about an association of strips 108 can beused as indicators of a common use for a sanitizing application. Also,shapes of the at least one strip can be used to indicate a commongrouping for a common use in a sanitizing application of the bag.

Note that any stores 106 that are not used at any particular sanitizingapplication of the bag will normally continue to contain the sanitizingagent comprising ozone gas. The ozone gas eventually converts back topure oxygen gas and continues to be contained in the at least one store106 until a later activation and energizing step, such as by re-exposureto UV energy. In this way, the stores 106 can be selectively releasedfor use in sanitizing applications. Stores that are not released for useat a particular use of the bag will also be activated, such as byexposure to UV energy, and will temporarily contain the sanitizing agentcomprising ozone gas. But, the ozone gas in these unused stores 106 willconvert back to oxygen and will be ready for future activation and usein a later application of and re-use of the bag 1200. This provides asignificant advantage, in accordance with the present invention,allowing re-usability of the sanitizing bag 1200 for repeated sanitizingapplications to objects or products. Alternative means of releasing thestores 106 for subsequent re-use of the bag 1200 can be readilyanticipated by those of ordinary skill in the art. For example,alternative mechanical release barrier mechanisms can provide selectiverelease of stores 106 for subsequent transfer of sanitizing agentcomprising ozone gas to objects or products in the re-usable bag 1200.

In another exemplary alternative embodiment of the present invention, arelatively rigid structure such as a box 1502, or, such as a bottle, acan, and a cylinder 1402, can provide sanitizing effect to products orobjects that are packaged any such container, as illustrated in FIGS. 14and 15. A liner 1404,1408, or 1504, 1508, can be formed within thepackage of the rigid structure including the first gas impermeable (orlow gas permeable) layer 102 and a second optionally gas permeable layer104,702, (preferably including micro-perforations 704), containing atleast one store 106 therebetween. The rigid package, such as a cylinderor box can include a liner film or sheet structure comprising the atleast one store 106, also indicated by drawing elements 1406,1410, anddrawing elements 1506,1510, to provide sanitizing effect to an object orproduct stored in the rigid package when in use. The at least one store106 can contain a gas atmosphere comprising a high concentration of pureoxygen gas and optionally carbon dioxide gas to maintain a selectedmixture of pure oxygen in the atmosphere within each of the at least onestore 106. The rigid structure preferably comprises an opening portionto allow an object or a product to be inserted and removed from therigid packaging structure.

About the opening of the rigid package, such as a box, canister, ortumbler, includes a cap, lid, or other closure structure (not shown)that can form a seal to maintain the inner portion of the rigidstructure in a sealed enclosure. Preferably, the rigid structure ismaintained sealed with the cap or lid until ready to be used, where theinner portion of the rigid structure preferably contains an atmospherecomprising a high concentration of carbon dioxide gas and minimal or nosignificant concentration of nitrogen gas. In one exemplary preferredembodiment, the second layer includes micro-perforations to allowtransfer of the sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas. The inner gaspressure in the closed container is mechanically coupled to the at leastone store 106 and tends to provide a removable barrier thereto by gaspressure about the micro-perforations to help reduce transfer of theoxygen gas atmosphere and/or sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas viathe micro-perforations of the at least one store 106 until ready to usethe package. In this way, the liner comprising the at least one store106 can continue to retain and capture the gas atmosphere comprising thehigh concentration of pure oxygen within the at least one store 106until ready to be used, such as when the container is opened to insertan object or product.

When ready to use the rigid container, the inner portion of the rigidcontainer and the liner, 1404,1408, or 1504,1508, are preferably exposedto an ultraviolet radiation energy source to energize and activate thepure oxygen gas within the at least one store 106 and convert the pureoxygen to a high concentration of pure ozone within the at least onestore 106. If the outer rigid structure of the rigid container istransparent, or relatively transparent to the ultraviolet lightradiation energy, the ultraviolet source can be located outside of therigid container and transmit the energy through the outer rigidstructure of the container to energize and convert the oxygen within theat least one store 106 to the high concentration of pure ozone.Alternatively, if the rigid structure is opaque or not sufficientlytransparent to ultraviolet light radiation energy, then the lid or capor top structure can be removed from the opening of the rigid containerand an ultraviolet light energy source can be delivered through theopening of the container to expose the liner, 1404,1408, or 1504,1508,and inner portions of the container to the ultraviolet light radiationenergy thereby converting the pure oxygen to pure ozone when ready to beused for providing the beneficial sanitizing effect.

After the lid or top of the container is removed and the at least onestore 106 contains and begins to transfer a sanitizing agent comprisinga high concentration of pure ozone, an object or a product can beinserted into the rigid structure container to store within thecontainer while providing the beneficial sanitizing effect to the objectand/or product. After the object or product has been inserted into therigid container, the lid and/or cap can be replaced over the opening toseal the object and/or product within the rigid container therebyprolonging the beneficial sanitizing effect to the object and/or productsealed within the rigid container.

Additionally, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, thelid and/or cap can also contain a liner portion on the inner side of thelid and/or cap which can be exposed to the ultraviolet light energyradiation before, or during, use in a sanitizing containing application.In this way, an object and/or product that is stored within the rigidcontainer, including the cap and/or lid providing the seal over theopening of the container, receives the beneficial sanitizing effect fromall directions and all exposed surfaces to the inner liner portion ofthe rigid container.

Further, the micro-perforations 704 and/or permeability of the secondlayer 104,702, can be selectively located over portions of the innerliner structure to enhance the transfer rate of the sanitizing agentcomprising ozone gas in certain portions of the inner liner, whileproviding a selected slower transfer rate over other portions of theinner liner. This selective fast and slow transfer rate provided overdifferent stores 106, for example, can provide a rapid transfer ofsanitizing agent comprising ozone gas to provide immediate beneficialsanitizing effect to a product in the rigid container while additionallyproviding an extended sanitizing effect to the food product over alonger period of time. Ozone gas normally has a relatively short periodof time for sanitizing an object or product once exposed to andcontacting the surface of the object or product before the ozoneconverts to oxygen and mixes with any fluids of the object or product.Therefore, for example, by staggering the selected transfer rate ofproximate stores 106 in the liner structure, the rigid container canprovide both an immediate beneficial sanitizing effect and a continuousextended sanitizing effect over the entire surface area of the innerliner structure such as to enhance a packaged product's shelf life.

Furthermore, the stores 106 in the liner structure can be selectivelyreleased for use in a sanitizing application such that the rigidcontainer can be reused to provide sanitizing benefit to a product overa number of subsequent uses. For example, a plurality of strippablelayer strips 108 (such as illustrated in FIG. 1) can be selectivelycovering certain stores 106 in a container. For each sanitizingapplication of the container, a user can selectively remove at least oneof the plurality of strippable layer strips 108 to activate and releasethe sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas contained in the stores 106covered by the removed at least one of the plurality of strippable layerstrips 108. Note that any stores 106 that are not used at any particularapplication of the container will normally continue to contain thesanitizing agent comprising ozone gas. The ozone gas eventually convertsback to pure oxygen gas and continues to be contained in the at leastone store 106 until a later activation and energizing step, such as byre-exposure to UV energy. In this way, the stores 106 can be selectivelyreleased for use in sanitizing applications. Stores that are notreleased for use at a particular use of the container will also beactivated, such as by exposure to UV energy, and will temporarilycontain the sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas. But, the ozone gas inthese unused stores 106 will convert back to oxygen and will be readyfor future activation and use in a later application of and re-use ofthe rigid container. This provides a significant advantage, inaccordance with the present invention, allowing re-usability of thesanitizing container for repeated sanitizing applications to objects orproducts. Alternative means of releasing the stores 106 for subsequentre-use of the rigid container can be readily anticipated by those ofordinary skill in the art. For example, alternative mechanical releasebarrier mechanisms can provide selective release of stores 106 forsubsequent transfer of sanitizing agent comprising ozone gas to objectsor products in the re-usable rigid container.

In one preferred alternative embodiment, a plurality of strips 108 arearranged about the inner lining with one or more strips 108 inassociation, such as indicated by a common attribute such as a commoncolorization treatment to indicate the association. The at least onestrip 108, as indicated such as by a common color of the at least onestrip 108, is then removed by a user of the sanitizing container tore-use the container in a sanitizing re-application by activating andreleasing a plurality of stores 106 covered by the at least one strip108. For a subsequent sanitizing application (re-use of the container),for example, the user would remove a second at least one strip 108 of adifferent color. For example, a blue colored association of strips 108would be removed for a first sanitizing application of the container,and then a yellow colored association of strips 108 would be removed bythe user for a second sanitizing application (re-use of the container).As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, other attributes ofthe association of the at least one strip 108 can be used to indicategrouping for common release in sanitizing applications and re-use of thesanitizing container. For example, patterns and/or colors on or about anassociation of strips 108 can be used as indicators of a common use fora sanitizing application. Also, shapes of the at least one strip can beused to indicate a common grouping for a common use in a sanitizingapplication of the container.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, an exemplary system for providing asanitizing, disinfecting, and/or sterilizing treatment to productsand/or objects being packaged is shown according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 shows a side view of thesystem while FIG. 18 shows a top view of the system. Preferably, thesystem operates in a substantially contained environment 1702, or atleast a partially contained environment. However, in certainapplications the system may operate in an open uncontained environment.The environment 1702 will typically include an atmosphere 1704 thatcomprises a sanitizing agent comprising ozone. However, at times theatmosphere 1704 may contain a convertible agent that can be converted toa sanitizing agent comprising ozone, such as by exposure to ultravioletenergy. A first U.V.Source 1706 that radiates 1709 U.V. energy withinthe environment where the system is operating. Additionally, a secondU.V. source 1708 may also be radiating 1710 U.V. energy in theenvironment that includes the system. The operational system includes aninclined chute 1712 that guides product into the opening 1717 of areceiving packaging 1716, such as a bag or other container. The inclineor chute 1712 preferably includes guard walls 1713 on either side of theincline or chute 1712 to help guide product down the chute 1712 and intothe bag or container 1716. The product or objects move down 1731 guidedby the chute 1712 and into the opening 1717 of the packaging orcontainer 1716, such as a bag. Five objects or products 1722, 1724,1726, 1728, 1730, are illustrated moving down 1731 the chute 1712 andinto the container packaging 1716. The ultraviolet radiation from thefirst U.V. Source 1706 and the second U.V. Source 1708 can penetrate anddeliver the U.V. energy through the structure of the guiding incline orchute 1712 as well as through the container or packaging 1716 todirectly expose all of the environment 1702 with the ultraviolet energy.This helps to energizably convert the convertible agent to thesanitizing agent comprising ozone, under a first ultraviolet radiationenergy, and further can help to convert the sanitizing agent comprisingozone to the convertible agent, under a second ultraviolet energy, aswill be discussed in more detail below. Further, as the products orobjects 1722, 1724, 1726, 1728, 1730, are being guided down 1731 fromthe inclined chute 1712 into the opening 1717 of the bag or container orpackaging 1716 the surfaces of the products or objects 1722, 1724, 1726,1728,1730 will be more fully exposed to the ultraviolet radiation energyfrom the first U.V. Source 1706 and the second U.V. Source 1708.Optionally, the bottom surface 1714 of the incline or chute 1712 can beprovided with a rough surface, or ridges, that can at least partly gripthe surface of the products or objects moving down 1731 the inclinedchute 1712 to thereby introduce a rotational motion 1732 to the productsand/or objects 1722, 1724, 1726, 1728, 1730. This rotational motion 1732helps to further expose to the ultraviolet radiation and to thesanitizing agent comprising ozone to all of the surfaces of the productsor objects 1722, 1724, 1726, 1728, 1730 being guided into the container1716 for packaging. Additionally, a rough surface or ridges 1718, 1720,can be added to the container or bag 1716 for additionally providing therotational motion 1732 to the objects or products 1722, 1724, 1726,1728, 1730, being introduced into the container and packaging 1716.Preferably, the rough surfaces, or ridges 1714, 1718, 1720, aretransparent to the ultraviolet energy radiation from the first U.V.Source 1706 and the second U.V. Source 1708. This allows the ultravioletenergy radiation to penetrate through these rough surfaces, or ridgesstructures 1714, 1718, 1720. According to a preferred embodiment, therough surfaces, or ridges, 1714, 1718, 1720, are provided as stripsalong the length of the inclined chute 1712 and the length of the bottomsurface and top surface of the container or bag 1716 for packaging. Notethat by adding the strips to the top and bottom of the container or bag1716 it is a symmetrical arrangement such that the bag can be locatedeither way with respect to the incline 1712 to receive the products orobjects 1722, 1724, 1726, 1728, 1730. This makes the product or objectpackaging operation much simpler and efficient.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, theproduct or objects 1722, 1724, 1726, 1728, 1730, may comprise hot dogsthat are being packaged such as in a container or bag 1716. However,those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that other objects orproduct may likewise be substituted for the hot dogs where these objectsor products are to be bulk loaded into the container and/or bag 1716 forpackaging. Notice that the packaging operation allows the contained, orpartially contained environment or atmosphere within the container orbag 1716 to receive the ultraviolet radiation from the first U.V. Source1706 and the second U.V. Source 1708. While the hot dog products 1722,1724, 1726, 1728, 1730, are rotationally introduced into the containerand/or bag 1716 for packaging the atmosphere in the container or bag1716 can be energized the ultraviolet radiation. According to a firstultraviolet radiation from the first U.V. Source 1706 and the secondU.V. Source 1708, such as about a substantially 253 nm wavelength rangefor the ultraviolet radiation energy, a strong anti-microbial killingtreatment of ultraviolet radiation energy is applied to the hot dogproducts 1722, 1724, 1726, 1728, 1730, being packaged in the containerand/or bag 1716. This frequency of ultraviolet radiation energy, besideshaving the anti-microbial killing effect directly on the surfaces andthe atmosphere in the container and bag 1716, also has the effect ofconverting sanitizing agent comprising ozone back to a convertible agentsuch as air with oxygen. Hence, for a period of time while theultraviolet energy radiation is radiated in the environment 1702 at afirst frequency such as about 253 nm wavelength range for ultravioletradiation energy, the surfaces within the environment 1702, such as allthe exposed surfaces of the hot dog products 1722, 1724, 1726, 1728,1730, and the surfaces of the container and bag 1716, and the inclinedchute surfaces 1712 will be exposed to the strong anti-microbial killingultraviolet energy.

At a second timed interval, the ultraviolet energy radiated from thefirst U.V. Source 1706 and the second U.V. Source 1708 comprisesultraviolet radiation energy that is substantially a frequency of about185 nm wavelength range. This radiation 1709, 1710, will energize theconvertible agent comprising oxygen and convert it to the sanitizingagent comprising ozone. This conversion takes place within theenvironment 1702 and including within the container and/or bag 1716 thatis packaging the hot dog products 1722, 1724, 1726, 1728, 1730. Thesanitizing agent comprising ozone has a strong lingering effect forkilling microbes that may be resident on the exposed surfaces as on thehot dog products 1722, 1724, 1726, 1728, 1730, and the exposed surfacesof the inclined chute 1712 and the container and/or bag 1716. Thesanitizing agent comprising ozone provides additional sanitizing and/orsterilizing effect to the packaged hot dog products 1722, 1724, 1726,1728, 1730 in the container and/or bag 1716. Once the container and/orbag 1716 is filled with the desired amount of product 1722, 1724, 1726,1728, 1730, then the opening 1717 can be sealed and the packaged hot dogproducts 1722, 1724, 1726, 1728, 1730, can be delivered from thepackaging operation to a post-processing station. During the deliverythe container and/or bag 1716 contains an atmosphere and environmentthat can be additionally treated by ultraviolet radiation energy toalternatively provide the anti-microbial killing ultraviolet energyfrequency to the surfaces exposed within the container and/or bag 1716while converting any sanitizing agent comprising ozone in the containerand/or bag 1716 back to the convertible agent comprising oxygen. Then ata second ultraviolet energy frequency the convertible agent comprisingoxygen in the container and/or bag 1716 can be converted to thesanitizing agent comprising ozone to provide additional sanitizingand/or sterilizing treatment to the packaged products 1722, 1724, 1726,1728, 1730. This dual action treatment provides significant sanitizingand/or sterilizing effect to the packaged hot dog products 1722, 1724,1726, 1728, 1730, that will then remain packaged in the sealed containerand/or packaging 1716 until ready to be consumed by the user.Advantageously, all surfaces of the products and/or objects will beexposed to both the ultraviolet energy with anti-microbial killingeffect and further to the sanitizing agent comprising ozone thatprovides additional long term sanitizing and/or sterilizing effect tothe products in the package 1716. Note that this treatment can beapplied to other products and/or objects being packaged such as in themedical field instrumentation that needs to be guided into packaging maybenefit from this system as discussed with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18.

Referring to FIG. 19, an alternative preferred embodiment for packagingproduct or objects is shown. The system for packaging objects orproducts is preferably contained in an environment 1902 comprises anatmosphere 1904. The environment 1902, alternatively, can be partiallycontained or even in open area while operating the system for packagingthe products and/or objects. The atmosphere 1904 can contain asanitizing agent comprising ozone. A first U.V. Source 1906 radiates1910 U.V. energy into the environment 1902. A second U.V. Source 1908also radiates 1912 U.V. energy into the environment 1902. Although twoU.V. energy sources 1906, 1908 are illustrated in this example, a systemmay operate with at least one U.V. energy source 1906 or 1908 forproviding U.V. energy into the environment 1902. A container and/or bag1914 receives the products and/or objects 1940 that are being packagedin the container and/or bag 1914. An opening 1916 in the containerand/or bag 1914 receives the products and/or objects being packaged. Theproducts and/or objects are delivered via an inclined chute 1936 thatguides the products and/or objects into a baffle structure 1918 thatguides products and/or objects into the opening 1916 of the containerand/or bag 1914 while providing a rotational, and/or a mixing, motion tothe products and/or objects being guided through the baffle structure1918 and into the container and/or bag 1914. The baffle structure 1918includes a series of inclined shelves 1920, 1922, 1924, 1926, 1928,1930, 1932, 1934, that are arranged in alternatively opposing inclinedfashion such that the products and/or objects that fall through thebaffle structure 1918 will follow a path such as shown by the arrow 1938and thereby obtain rotational motion while passing over the opposinginclined shelves 1920, 1922, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1934. Thebaffle structure 1918 is preferably comprising material that issubstantially transparent to the ultraviolet radiation energy that isradiated in 1910 from the first ultraviolet energy source 1906 andradiated 1912 from the second ultraviolet energy source 1908. Thisallows the ultraviolet radiation energy 1910, 1912, to substantiallytransfer through the baffle structure 1918 and onto the surfaces andenvironment within the baffle structure 1918. The products and/orobjects being dropped through the baffle structure 1918, therefore, willbe substantially exposed to the ultraviolet energy radiation 1910, 1912.Additionally, the atmosphere within the baffle structure 1918 will alsobe substantially exposed to the ultraviolet radiation energy 1910, 1912.Additionally, the container and/or bag 1914 is also comprising materialthat is substantially transparent to ultraviolet radiation energy 1910,1912, thereby allowing the ultraviolet radiation energy 1910, 1912, toenter within the container and/or bag 1914 and radiate onto the surfaceswithin the container and/or bag 1914 as well as the atmosphere andenvironment within the container and/or bag 1914. The products and/orobjects being delivered into the container and/or bag 1914 through thebaffle structure 1918, therefore, will be substantially bathed by theultraviolet radiation energy 1910, 1912. The rotational, and/or mixing,motion imparted onto the objects and/or products being dropped throughthe baffle structure 1918 will substantially expose all of the surfacesof the products and/or objects to the ultraviolet radiation energy 1910,1912. This exposure to the ultraviolet radiation energy 1910, 1912occurs from the starting point, such as at the guiding incline or chute1936, which preferably is also made of material that is transparent toultraviolet radiation energy 1910, 1912, and continues through thebaffle structure 1918, and into the container and/or bag 1914 used forpackaging the products and/or objects 1940. As should have becomeobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art other forms of bafflestructure 1918 can be utilized in this system to provide the desiredrotational, and/or mixing motion to the products and/or objects beingdelivered into the container and/or bag 1914 through the bafflestructure 1918. Similar to the earlier discussion above with respect toFIGS. 17 and 18, the ultraviolet radiation energy 1910, 1912, can bealternatively applied at a first frequency of ultraviolet radiation,such as about 253 nm wavelength range, for providing a stronganti-microbial killing effect on all surfaces in the environment 1902,including the surfaces of the products and/or objects being packaged inthe container and/or package material 1914, and alternatively can beexposed to a second ultraviolet radiation energy frequency, such asabout 185 nm wavelength range, to convert the convertible agentcomprising oxygen to the sanitizing agent comprising ozone. Thesanitizing agent comprising ozone provides additional sanitizing and/orsterilizing effect to the products and/or objects being packaged in thecontainer and/or bag 1914. After the container and/or bag 1914 is filledwith the desired amount of products and/or objects 1940 the opening 1916can be sealed to contain within the container and/or bag 1914 theproduct in an environment that will be protected from external hazardsand contaminants while still receiving, as desired, the ultravioletenergy radiation 1910, 1912, to alternatively provide the stronganti-microbial killing effect of the ultraviolet radiation energy at afirst frequency, such as about 253 nm wavelength range, and providingthe additional sanitizing and/or sterilizing effect of the sanitizingagent comprising ozone being energizeably converted from the convertibleagent while being exposed to the ultraviolet radiation energy at thesecond frequency, such as at about 185 nm wavelength range. Thecontainer and/or bag 1914 can then be delivered to a post processingstation with the contained products and/or objects being sanitizedand/or sterilized as desired by the particular application.

According to another alternative embodiment, the baffle structure 1918can be included within the package container and/or bag 1914 fortransport with the products and/or objects 1940. If the products and/orobjects 1940 are packaged in the container and/or bag 1914 with thebaffle structure 1918 such that there is sufficient space for movementof the products and/or objects 1940 within the container and/or bag1914, the sealed container and/or bag 1914 can be provided withalternative inclined action, such as via a conveyer belt system, thatwill provide additional rotational, and/or mixing, motion to thecontained products and/or objects 1940 inside the container and/or bag1914, while delivering to the post processing station. During thisdelivery process, further exposure to ultraviolet radiation energy canprovide additional sanitizing and/or sterilizing treatment to thecontained products and/or objects 1940 in the sealed container and/orbag 1914. The rotational motion while sealed provides exposure ofsurfaces of the products and/or objects to the ultraviolet radiationenergy 1910, 1912, as well as to the sanitizing agent comprising ozone.This enhances the effect for sanitizing or sterilizing the containedproducts and/or objects 1940. Note that similarly, with reference toFIGS. 17 and 18, the contained products and/or objects 1722, 1724, 1726,1728, 1730, can rotate on the rough surface 1718, 1720, and therebyexpose surfaces to the ultraviolet radiation energy 1709, 1710, and tothe sanitizing agent comprising ozone for providing additionalsanitizing and/or sterilizing effect to the products and/or objects1722, 1724, 1726, 1728, 1730, in the sealed container and/or bag 1716while being delivered to the post processing station. The exemplarysystem being discussed with reference to FIG. 19, could handle objectsand/or products that are not necessarily of a symmetrical dimension thatwould rotate easily on inclines. For example, products such as seedsand/or spices and/or screws or other hardware that may have odd shapesand that do not easily rotate on an incline would be perfect candidatesfor such a baffle structure 1918.

Referring to FIGS. 20, 21, and 22, and exemplary product storage systemis illustrated according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. Product storage take many forms. For example, a freezer orrefrigeration system, such as illustrated in FIG. 22, can store productwithin shelves or storage bins to great lengths of time beforeconsumption or use of the products and/or objects 2206, 2208. Asillustrated in FIG. 22, products and/or objects are stored in a rigidtype container 2206 or in a flexible type container 2208. In eithercase, the products are typically stored on shelves and/or storage binsor drawers that are contained within the storage system, such as thefreezer or refrigeration system as shown in FIG. 22. The refrigerator2202 in FIG. 22 includes ultraviolet radiation energy sources 2204 thatare strategically located inside the internal compartments of therefrigerator 2202 to radiate ultraviolet energy that will substantiallyexpose all surfaces of the contained products and/or objects 2206,2208in the refrigerator 2202. Additionally, the environment and atmospheresurrounding the products and/or objects, 2206, 2208, will also beexposed to the ultraviolet radiation energy from the U.V. Sources 2204.The refrigerator 2202, in this example, is shown as a side-by-siderefrigerator with one of it's doors open to show the internalcompartments of the refrigerator at the open side while the left side ofthe refrigerator 2202 remains closed. Note that it is very common forrefrigerator systems 2202, to include a normal incandescent lamp withinthe container in the refrigerator 2202 such that when the door opens toallow access to the internal compartments of the refrigerator 2202 theincandescent lamp turns ON to illuminate and allow a user to see theproducts and/or objects contained in that compartment in therefrigerator 2202. However, according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, when a user is about to open and gain access to theinternal compartments of a storage system such as the refrigerator 2202,the ultraviolet radiation sources 2204 must be turned OFF to prevent anypotential injury to a user when opening the door, and/or gaining accessto, the internal compartments of the storage system such as therefrigerator 2202. That is the ultraviolet radiation energy be turnedOFF anytime that a user is about to gain access to the internalcompartments of the storage system 2202.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, the storage system, according to the presentexample, comprises electronic controlling circuits 2000. The controlsystem 2000 includes a controller 2002 that is electrically coupled to amemory 2004 and further electrically coupled to a non-volatile memory2006. The non-volatile memory 2006 maintains storage of data andparameters that persist even when power is removed from the controlsystem 2000. A clock/calendar 2005 is communicatively coupled to thecontroller 2002 such that it provides date and time information to thecontroller 2002. Additionally, the controller 2002 is electricallycoupled to a first U.V. timer 2008 and a second U.V. timer 2010. In thisexample, the first U.V. timer 2008 is used by the controller 2002 tokeep track of a time interval for turning ON and then OFF a radiatedultraviolet radiation energy at a first frequency, such as at the 253 nmwavelength that typically provides strong anti-microbial effects on theexposed surfaces. The second U.V. timer 2010 is used to keep track of atime interval where ultraviolet radiation energy is radiated at a secondfrequency, such as at about 185 nm wavelength. This second frequencyprovides efficient conversion energy for energizably converting theconvertible agent comprising oxygen to the sanitizing agent comprisingozone. An access sensor 20212 is communicatively coupled to thecontroller 2002 for sensing when access to the internal compartments ofthe storage system is being requested by a user. This access sensor 2012indicates when a user is about to open the door to the storage systemsuch as the refrigerator 2202. Since it is important to keep ultravioletradiation energy from radiating when a user has access to the internalcompartments of the storage system, the controller 2002 monitors theaccess sensor 2012 at all times to immediately detect when a user isattempting to gain access to the internal compartments of the storagesystem. Preferably, the storage system has an additional lockingmechanism that will maintain it locked and inaccessible by an externaluser while a U.V. energy is radiated in the internal compartment of thestorage system. That is, the user must request access to gain access tothe internal compartments of the storage system before actually gainingthe access while ultraviolet radiation energy is being used inside thecompartments. Preferably, the access sensor 2012 monitors not only thatthe door is being opened by a user but monitors a request by a user toopen and gain access. For example, a user pulling on the handle of therefrigerator door may request access and the controller 2012 will detectthis via the access sensor 2012. However access will only be granted bythe controller 2002 when it has affirmatively turned OFF all of theultraviolet radiation sources inside the compartments of the storagesystem. The controller 2002 communicates via the IO interface 2016 withlocking mechanisms for all the access entry points thereby making surethat access is only gained after the internal compartments are safe foruse by the user. Additionally, the controller 2002 controls theultraviolet radiation sources 2004 via the U.V. control output 2014. TheU.V. control output interface 2014 communicates the control signals tothe driving circuits for the particular ultraviolet radiation sources2204. These ultraviolet radiation sources 2204 can be energized toradiate at a first ultraviolet radiation energy such as at the wavelength 253 nm, or at a second ultraviolet radiation energy, such as at awave length of about 185 nm, or the sources 2204 can all be turned OFF.According to the present example, every time that a user opens and thencloses the access to the storage system, such as opening and closing thedoors to the refrigerator 2202, the controller 2002 operates to cyclebetween a first ultraviolet radiation energy and followed by a secondultraviolet radiation energy to provide the anti-microbial effects ofthe first ultraviolet radiation energy to the products and/or objectsstored in the storage system and then followed by converting theconvertible agent comprising oxygen in the compartments of the storagesystem and in the packaging of the package products and/or objects 2206,2208, to the sanitizing agent comprising ozone to provide an extendedsanitizing and/or sterilizing effect to the stored products and/orobjects in the storage system. Since the sanitizing agent comprisingozone in the compartments contained in the storage system may also be anirritant and/or harmful to the users that are external and attempting togain access to the internal compartments of the storage system, when thecontroller 2002 detects that the access sensor 2012 is indicating that auser is requesting access to the internal compartments of the storagesystem, the controller 2002 may turn OFF all U.V. Sources that arecurrently operational and then cycle briefly such as for 10 to 30seconds, the first ultraviolet energy source which operates about the253 nm wavelength range. This frequency of the ultraviolet radiationenergy will essentially convert the sanitizing agent comprising ozone inthe compartments in the storage system back to the convertible agentcomprising oxygen which then presents no harmful effects to the user.After this cycle with the substantially 253 nm wavelength rangeultraviolet radiation energy, the controller 2002 can safely allowaccess to the external user to gain access to the internal compartmentsof the storage system. The controller 2002 can provide a signal via theIO interface 2016 to release the locking mechanism of the access point,such as the door to the refrigerator 2202 to then allow the user tocompletely open and gain access to the internal compartment of therefrigerator 2202.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thecontroller 2002 and generally the control system 2000 operates accordingto the operational sequence illustrated in FIG. 21. The controller 2002operates according to the exemplary operational sequence 2100 such as ina multi-tasking interrupt driven system where the sequences entered, atstep 2102, and then exited, at step 2108, during each pass that thecontroller 2002 is monitoring conditions for the storage system. Thismonitoring can require that the exemplary operational sequence 2100 befollowed many times a second, such as every 40 or 50 ms. The controller2002, at step 2104, monitors whether a user is requesting access to theinternal compartments of the storage system. If the request occurred andhave been granted, at step 2104, then the controller 2002 turns OFF allultraviolet radiation energy sources clears the times 1 and 2 and setsthe access flag to open which indicates that the user has gained accessto the internal compartments of the storage system. While the user hasaccess to the internal compartments of the storage system, at step 2104,all ultraviolet radiation sources will be maintained in the OFF. Whenthe user closes the door to the storage system and there is no more openaccess by an external user, at step 2104, then the controller 2002checks whether the access flag is set to open at step 2110. Thisindicates that the door has just been closed for the first time after auser has gained access to the internal compartment of the storagesystem. Alternatively, if a clock event is set to true that indicatesthat the clock calendar has reached a point where it has scheduled forcycling to occur between the first ultraviolet radiation energy and thesecond ultraviolet radiation energy inside the compartment in thestorage system. This even can occur for example, once per day or onceevery few days or even much more frequently. Preferably, the time forthe clock event is set in the late evening or midnight when users arenot likely to be opening and gaining access to the storage system.Therefore, if the clock event is true and both timers 1 and 2 are ended,which indicates that the system is in idle mode and that no ultravioletradiation energy source is operational at the time, then the clock eventis also a triggering event for beginning a cycling process for theultraviolet radiation energy sources in the compartment in the storagesystem. The controller 2002, at step 2112, then sets the access flag toclose and then sets the clock event to false. The controller 2002 thenstarts the timer 1 to cycle for the time interval desired for energizingthe first ultraviolet radiation energy source and then turns ON thefirst ultraviolet radiation energy sources. This time, for example, canlast from 10 to 30 seconds or alternatively a much longer time intervallike a few minutes. When the first timer has ended, at step 2114, thenthe controller 2002, at step 2116, starts the second timer, turns OFFthe first ultraviolet energy source, and then turns ON the secondultraviolet energy source. When the second timer has ended, at step2118, the controller 2002 turns OFF the second ultraviolet energysource, at step 2120. In this way, the controller 2002 for the storagesystem cycles the first and second ultraviolet energy sources every timethat a user closes the door to the refrigerator 2202, or completesaccess to the internal compartments of the storage system, andadditionally a clock event allows a cycling during those times when thestorage system is closed and it is desired to provide additionalsanitizing and/or sterilizing effect to the stored and packaged productsand/or objects in the internal compartment of the storage system. Inthis way, the sanitizing and/or sterilizing effect for the productsand/or objects stored in the storage system can be significantlyextended thereby enhancing the sanitary and/or sterile product conditionas well as extending the life of the products as while in storagesystem. This is a significant advantage of the present invention that isnot available from any known prior art system.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, itwill be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art thatchanges can be made to the specific embodiments without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is notto be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it isintended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications,modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the presentinvention.

1. A system comprising: a packaging container for receiving productsand/or objects therein, the packaging container comprising at least onestorage volume, the at least one storage volume containing a first agentthat is energizably convertible by an energy source to a sanitizingagent comprising ozone in the at least one storage volume, thesanitizing agent comprising ozone being transferable from the at leastone storage volume to the products and/or objects to provide at leastone of a sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing, application to theproducts and/or objects; and means for providing rotational motion tothe products and/or objects being stored in one of the at least onestorage volume for exposing surfaces of the products and/or objects tothe sanitizing agent comprising ozone.
 2. The system of claim 1, whereinthe energy source comprises an ultraviolet energy radiation energysource for radiating U.V. energy in the at least one storage volume. 3.The system of claim 1, wherein the means for providing rotational motionprovides the rotational motion to the products and/or objects beingstored in one of the at least one storage volume for exposing surfacesof the products and/or objects to at least one of radiation energy of anenergy source and sanitizing agent comprising ozone.
 4. The system ofclaim 3, wherein the energy source comprises an ultraviolet energyradiation energy source for radiating U.V. energy in the at least onestorage volume.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the means forproviding rotational motion comprises at least one of: an incline forproviding rotational motion to products and/or objects being stored inone of the at least one storage volume; a rough and/or ridged surfacefor providing rotational motion to products and/or objects moving overthe surface while being stored in one of the at least one storagevolume; at least one friction strip for providing rotational motion toproducts and/or objects moving over the friction strip while beingstored in one of the at least one storage volume; and a baffle structurefor providing rotational motion to products and/or objects movingthrough the baffle structure while being stored in one of the at leastone storage volume.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first agentcomprises oxygen and the first agent is energizably convertible to thesanitizing agent comprising ozone by the energy source at a first stateof the energy source, and wherein the sanitizing agent comprising ozoneis energizably convertible to the first agent comprising oxygen by theenergy source at a second state of the energy source.
 7. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the energy source comprises a first ultravioletradiation energy source to radiate a first ultraviolet radiation energyto energizably convert the first agent comprising oxygen to thesanitizing agent comprising ozone; and a second ultraviolet radiationenergy source to radiate a second ultraviolet radiation energy thatdelivers anti-microbial ultraviolet energy to exposed surfaces of theproducts and/or objects being stored in one of the at least one storagevolume.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first ultravioletradiation energy source radiates first ultraviolet radiation energy atabout a 185 nanometer wavelength range, and wherein a second ultravioletradiation energy source radiates second ultraviolet radiation energy atabout a 253 nanometer wavelength range.
 9. The system of claim 1,wherein the packaging container is at least partially transparent toultraviolet radiation, and wherein the energy source comprises anultraviolet radiation energy source to radiate ultraviolet radiationenergy through at least a portion of the packaging container toenergizably covert the first agent to the sanitizing agent comprisingozone in the at least one store.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein thepackaging container is at least partially transparent to ultravioletradiation, and wherein the packaging container comprises at least one ofa plastic film, a polymer film, a liner structure, a bag, a rigidcontainer, a box container, and a cylinder container.
 11. A systemcomprising: a storage volume for storing products and/or objects, thestorage volume containing a first agent that is energizably convertibleby an energy source to a sanitizing agent comprising ozone; an accessport for a user to access the storage volume to store in, and/or removeproducts and/or objects from, the storage volume; an access sensor forsensing when a user is requesting access of the access port to accessthe storage volume; at least one energy source for controllablyradiating energy in the storage volume to provide at least one of asanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing, application to the productsand/or objects in the storage volume; and a control system,communicatively coupled to the access sensor and to the at least oneenergy source, for sensing when a user is accessing the access port andfor controlling the at least one energy source, the at least one energysource being controlled in OFF state while a user is accessing theaccess port to access the storage volume.
 12. The system of claim 11,wherein the at least one energy source comprises a first ultravioletradiation energy source to radiate a first ultraviolet radiation energyto energizably convert a first agent comprising oxygen to a sanitizingagent comprising ozone in the storage volume and/or in a packagedstorage volume containing products and/or objects in packaging that isstored in the storage volume for storing products and/or objects; and asecond ultraviolet radiation energy source to radiate a secondultraviolet radiation energy that delivers anti-microbial ultravioletenergy to exposed surfaces of the products and/or objects being storedin the storage volume and/or to exposed surfaces of products and/orobjects being stored in packaged storage volume containing productsand/or objects in packaging that as stored in the storage volume forstoring products and/or objects.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein thepackaging that is stored in the storage volume is substantiallytransparent to the first and second ultraviolet radiation energy toallow the ultraviolet radiation energy in the packaged storage volumecontaining products and/or objects in the packaging.
 14. The system ofclaim 12, wherein the first ultraviolet radiation energy source radiatesfirst ultraviolet radiation energy at about a 185 nanometer wavelengthrange, and wherein a second ultraviolet radiation energy source radiatessecond ultraviolet radiation energy at about a 253 nanometer wavelengthrange.
 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the control system determineswhen the storage volume is not being accessed by a user, and, inresponse thereto, enables at least for a predetermined time interval theat least one energy source to be controlled in ON state for controllablyradiating energy in the storage volume to provide at least one of asanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing, application to the productsand/or objects in the storage volume.
 16. The system of claim 11,wherein the control system determines when the storage volume is firstnot being accessed by a user after a user has been accessing the accessport to access the storage volume, and, in response thereto, enables fora predetermined time interval the at least one energy source to becontrolled in ON state followed by OFF state for controllably radiatingenergy in the storage volume to provide at least one of a sanitizing,disinfecting, and sterilizing, application to the products and/orobjects in the storage volume.
 17. The system of claim 11, wherein thecontrol system comprises a clock/calendar module for providing clockevents that indicate a schedule for predetermined time intervals forcontrollably radiating energy in the storage volume, and wherein thecontrol system determines when the storage volume is not being accessedby a user and a clock event has occurred, and, in response thereto,enables at least for a predetermined time interval the at least oneenergy source to be controlled in ON state followed by OFF stateaccording to the schedule for controllably radiating energy in thestorage volume to provide at least one of a sanitizing, disinfecting,and sterilizing, application to the products and/or objects in thestorage volume.
 18. A method comprising: rotationally providing productsand/or objects in a packaging storage volume to substantially exposesurfaces of the products and/or objects to at least one of a sanitizing,disinfecting, and sterilizing, application in the packaging storagevolume; and radiating ultraviolet energy in the packaging storage volumeto energizably convert a first agent comprising oxygen to a sanitizingagent comprising ozone in the packaging storage volume to provide atleast one of a sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing, application tothe products and/or objects.
 19. The method of claim 18, whereinultraviolet energy is radiated in the packaging storage volume todeliver antimicrobial ultraviolet energy to exposed surfaces of theproducts and/or objects being stored in the packaging storage volume.20. The method of claim 18, wherein ultraviolet energy is radiated inthe packaging storage volume at a first frequency about 253 nanometerwavelength range to deliver anti-microbial ultraviolet energy to exposedsurfaces of the products and/or objects being stored in the packagingstorage volume, and wherein ultraviolet energy is radiated in thepackaging storage volume at a second frequency about 185 nanometerwavelength range to energizably convert a first agent comprising oxygento a sanitizing agent comprising ozone in the packaging storage volume.21. The system of claim 11, wherein the control system, beingcommunicatively coupled to the access sensor and to the at least oneenergy source, for sensing when a user is requesting access of theaccess port to access the storage volume, and, in response thereto, formaintaining the access port locked preventing user access to the storagevolume while the at least one energy source is determined to be in an ONstate.
 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the control system forsensing when a user is requesting access of the access port to accessthe storage volume, and, in response thereto, maintaining the accessport locked to prevent user access to the storage volume while enablingthe at least one energy source to be controlled in ON state followed byOFF state for controllably radiating ultraviolet radiation energy atabout a 253 nanometer wavelength range in the storage volume to convertsanitizing agent comprising ozone in the storage volume to an agentcomprising oxygen, and thereafter releasing a lock of the access port toallow the user access to the storage volume.